Dharana

To make the mind firmly located in an area or region, is Dha’ran’a’. Herein a Static Power works. You check the mind which is ever‑flowing. It is better to make the mind still at different Cakras (plexii) or joints of glands. Why is it better?

1. It is convenient to control the mind here with the help of Iccha’ Shakti.
2. Here (at plexii) are also situated many glands and sub‑glands wherein lie seats of Vrttis; each petal of the lotus acts as the set of one Vrtti. As such, concentration on the plexii establishes a control on Vrttis and also on the mind.
3. Concentration (or pause) of mind helps in Dhya’na.
4. It also helps in Cakra Shodhana. Every gland or nerve, artery or vein is purified by doing Iishvara Pran’idha’na with mind seated at the plexus.
5. Each of these Piit’has or plexii are the places where Id’a’ and Piungala’ change their direction, and when you get your mind seated at these places, the pressure of Id’a’ and Piungala’ on Sus’umna’ gets loosened, and the flow of Sus’umna’ becomes easier.

(I) In the brain you have got the controlling centre of subconscious and conscious. When you perform Dha’ran’a’ or Dhya’na, you have got the support of the subconscious and Iccha’ Shakti whose direct support enables you to perform them. Iccha’ Shakti, activates your mental power, then only you are to do Dha’ran’a’. What will be the effect of Dha’ran’a'?

When you concentrate your mind in some Cakra, subconscious directly associates itself with those Cakras and affects the conscious mind with the help of Iccha’ Shakti, and you are able to perform Dha’ran’a’. Suppose you have concentrated at the controlling point of A’jina’ Cakra (T’ham’).

Mind will go behind at the centre of subconscious and from there it shall control Lalana’, Vishuddha, Ana’hata, Man’ipura, Svadhisthana and Mula’dha’ra Cakras, thus mind associates itself with all the lower Cakras.

Suppose you are doing Dha’ran’a’ at the controlling point of Mu’la’dha’ra Cakra (Lam’), which is closely connected with Sus’umna’ Ka’n’d’a, and thereby having an effective association with A’jina’ Cakra and mind.

When your mind is in Mu’la’dha’ra Cakra during Dha’ran’a’, on the one side, mind is controlling Mu’la’dha’ra and on the other, Mu’la’dha’ra is controlling the mind. As such, you will find it convenient to bring the mind in the state of pause and concentration. Suppose you are trying to do Dha’ran’a’ at any other point on the body, which has no association with the Sus’umna’ Ka’n’d’a, it will not be convenient for you to have a mental equipoise as it shall be to have the controlling point of the Cakra, which has a close association not only with the Sus’umna’ Ka’n’d’a but also with the nerves.

(II) Dha’ran’a’ is performed only up to Vishuddha Cakra, since beyond that lies the pure mental world having no direct relation with the crude physicality. You perform Dha’ran’a’ at the different Cakras from Mu’la’dha’ra to Vishuddha, which are also the controlling centres of different Vrttis (each having control over a set of Vrttis 4, 6, 10, 12, 16). When your mind concentrates over these Cakras, automatically the control on the corresponding Vrttis is affected.

(III) Dha’ran’a’ makes your mind accustomed to sit at certain points and this will be helpful to you when you will be required to make your mind seated at some other points when you perform Dhya’na’. That means you will feel convenient to get your mind seated at T’ham’‑point and in Guru Cakra and Sahasra’ra Cakra.

The latter two are the internal and external sides of the same Cakra (Sahasra’ra). The internal side is connected with worldly expressions whereas the external side has no connection with worldly expressions. The internal side has been called Guru Cakra while the external one Sahasra’ra. The first step of Dhya’na is Dha’ran’a’ (Dha’ran’a’ at A’jina’ and at internal or external Sahasra’ra). Dha’ran’a’ performed at lower Cakras helps you in Dhya’na as well.

(IV) Will be dealt with in Cakra Shodhana.

(V) The whole vertebral column, with its external and internal sides is called Sus’umna’ Kanda.

The passage of Sus’umna’ fluid within it is called Sus’umna’ Na’d’ii. Another pipe that penetrates within this Sus’umna’, is the Citra’n’ii, the inner most pipe is known as Brahma’n’ii. Existence of Sus’umna’ is mental and spiritual and of Brahma’n’ii is exclusively spiritual, not even psychic.The lowermost end of Sus’umna’ is closed. Situated on the left side of Sus’umna’ is Id’a’ and on the right is Piungala’. The colour of Sus’umna’ is whitish with a bit yellow, of Id’a’ whitish (with a bit black) and of Piungala’ yellow. Existence of Id’a’ and Piungala’ is psycho‑spiritual just like Citra’n’ii.

Id’a’ and Piungala’ cross each other at Vam’ and change directions, similar is the condition at Ram’, Yam’ and Ham’. After reaching T’ham’ all the three change their directions, that is when Sus’umna’ goes up to Brahma‑Randhra or Sahasra’ra. While id’a’ and Piungala’ end at T’ham’. T’ham’, where the three get themselves separated without crossing one another, is also known as Mukta Triven’ii, Id’a’ and Piungala’ ending at the root of the two nostrils.

Lam’ is the point where the path is closed, it is known as Yukta Trivenii.

The pressure of Ida and Piungala on Sus’umna’ exerts itself at the points where they cross each other. As a rule, every hour, one of the Nadiis is stronger.

When Ida is stronger, it gets swollen and Piungala’ & Sus’umna’ are pressed. Similarly when Piungala’ is stronger, Id’a’ and Sus’umna’ are suppressed and when the latter is stronger, the other two get suppressed.

You are doing Dha’ran’a’ at Lam’, Vam’, Ram’, Yam’ and Ham’, your mind reaches these points through Sus’umna’, as a

consequence Sus’umna’ will get swollen and respiration from both the nostrils shall begin. When Id’a’ is strong, you will have respiration from the left nostril and when Piungala’ is strong, breath will flow through the right nostril. Thus when you get your mind seated at Lam’, Vam’, Ram’, Yam’, and Ham’, Sus’umna’ gets stronger.